Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
Cells
Prokaryote
• Single-celled
organism that lacks a
nucleus and other
membrane-bound cell
parts (organelles)
Features of Prokaryotes
• Cannot carry out
specialized functions
• Lived at least 3.5
billion years ago and
were only organisms
on the planet for
nearly 2 billion years
Warrawoona Formation, Australia, 3.5
billion years ago, prokaryotes (no nucleus,
probably cyanobacteria)
Features of Prokaryotes continued
• Modern prokaryotes are informally called bacteria.
• Genetic material is a single circle of DNA
• Have a cell wall for structure and flagella for
movement
Eukaryote
• An organism
whose cells have a
nucleus and other
membrane-bound
organelles
• Organelle is a
structure that
carries out a
specific function
Eukaryotes continued
Flagella whip back and forth.
They are structurally different from the
flagella found in prokaryotes.
Cilia are shorter and beat stiffly
in one direction.
• Many single-celled
eukaryotes use
flagella or cilia to
move around
and/or to move
material across cell
membrane
Eukaryote vs. Prokaryote